The new Educare Early Learning Center in the Greenbridge community of White Center is scheduled to open in late February 2010. The Center will offer full-day, year-round preschool and child care programs for 132 children from income eligible families and children with disabilities. The Center will also offer caregiver and educator resources and training programs that focus on preparing all children in the community to be successful in school and life.

The Educare Early Learning Center is now enrolling children ages birth to five for 32 openings for infants and toddlers, and 20 new openings for preschoolers. Classes are scheduled to begin the end of February. An additional 50 preschool openings will be available in June.

The Educare Early Learning Center is part of a growing national network of Educare early learning programs that combine Head Start and Early Head Start with full day child care services.
Core features of the Educare Program are:
• Research-based practices and strategies
• Small class size
• Focus on language and literacy
• Emphasis on social-emotional development to promote school readiness
• On-site family support services
Children will receive continuity of care by having the same highly-qualified teacher for several years. This helps children develop secure relationships and contributes to school-readiness.

In order to enroll for the Educare full day program, families must be income eligible for Head Start or Early Head Start or be qualified for Working Connections Child Care subsidy via DSHS or have another form of subsidy. Children with disabilities are also eligible without regard to family income.

For information on eligibility and enrollment, families can call (206) 762-6070 until February 1 and (206) 716-8800 after February 1. Applications in English and Spanish can be downloaded at http://www.wceli.org/educare. Interpreters are available to assist families who speak other languages with filling out an application in person or over the phone.

About the Educare Early Learning Center
Adjacent to the White Center Heights Elementary School, the Educare Early Learning Center is part of the King County Housing Authority’s Greenbridge community, a 96-acre redevelopment of its Park Lake Homes Public Housing. The 44,000 square foot building features six preschool classes, four infant/toddler classrooms, training rooms and community gathering spaces.

The Educare Early Learning Center is a collaborative effort of the White Center Early Learning Initiative, Thrive by Five Washington and Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD).

PSESD recently received new Head Start and Early Head Start funding of $1.5 million dollars, which will provide Head Start services to 54 additional White Center children, as well as assuring stable public funding for the services provided in the new Educare building.

The formal Grand Opening Celebration will be held March 27, 2010, a month after classes and services have been underway. More information on the Celebration will be coming soon.

To learn more about the Educare Early Learning Center, Head Start, the White Center Early Learning Initiative, or Puget Sound Educational Service District, visit www.wceli.org and www.psesd.org, or call 425-917-7605.